Baseball game board



Jan. 20, 1953 BE|ERLE 2,626,155

BASEBALL GAME BOARD Filed Dec. 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR.

ATTE RN EYS Jan. 20, 1953 F. BEu-:RLE

BASEBALL GAME BOARD I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 2, 1949 9 4K7 413W @a ATTDRNEYS Jan. 20, 1953 F. BEn-:RLE 2,626,155

BASEBALL GAME BOARD Filed Dec. 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Bm. su 1F cF ss f2s 5B no s Do 5I 5l Gr G TR a sL sm ano 1B Lr 255B mi a e G su e e 1R (e 5| Bim muss Rr Rf LF CA Pl no Do 5I G G Si D0 G 5m PoP ro cr ss Pl 1B (i G G G (i 5a G po sm aso fo er nr 2B cn Si G 'G G sa a ec sl a wn swl Flou Fo cF 589s 5B G. sa G no a G Dp Q 9i 11B mss Fo LF Pass 59| G G Sl G G s: G sa e am FLY 1B cF ssfe 1a G G G ER se a HR G Se sw cao cn Rr 1353 cn G no G. su Q e sa ma e Bmx. Fou Fou-@B1B p| SI 5| [sa 5w. n1 @194m 53 B' 96 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BASEBALL GAME BOARD Ferdinand Beierle, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 2, 1949, Serial No. 130,712

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toy baseball games of the type having a playing iield or diamond on a .game board in combination with players freely positioned on the board, and play indicating means also mounted on the board, and in particular the invention includes a game board having a diamond including a pitchers mound and home plate positioned thereon with players freely positioned on the board and actuated by traveling magnets on the under surface of the board and .a plurality of spinning rollers actuated by a thumb button for indicating the different plays.

The purpose of this invention is to improve the usual toy baseball game by providing means positioned at one end of a game board having a playing iield thereon for indicating the plays and also for advancing players freely mounted on the board from one position to another.

In the usual type of toy baseball games cards representing players are positioned over a spinner or other means are provided for indicating plays and the playing pieces are manually actuated. With this type of game board interest in the game is soon lost because the elements do not represent players and where cards are used the cards are lost and damaged. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates an improved game board having a representation of a playing iield thereon with sufficient players to represent two teams provided in combination with the board and with means incorporated in the construction of the board whereby the plavers may be advanced from a point at one end of the board as plays are made.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for constructing a baseball game board whereby players may be advanced around a diamond indicated thereon without positive contact of the players with the advancing means and whereby means is provided for indicating substantially all plays included in a game of baseball.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baseball game board having indicating means mounted thereon with players freely positioned and adapted to travel around a playing field on the board in which means is provided for actuating a pitcher freely positioned on the board as a play is made.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved baseball game board having players separated from the board and actuated by magnets incorporated in the board and also provided with play indicating means mounted on the board, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in View the invention embodies a game board having a baseball diamond indicated thereon with a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in a casing having windows therein on the board with play indicating indicia on the rollers and with means for actuating players, separate from the board, on the board.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the baseball game board illustrating the relative positions of the parts.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the board with players freely positioned thereon.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the center of the game board with parts at the ends broken away.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan through the game board with the upper surface of the board removed and taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a section of the play indicating cylinder of the game board with a play indicated thereon by dot and dash lines and arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail through the play indicating roller showing a spring associated with one of the sections thereof wherein the section rotates in a counterclockwise direction as the roller 'is actuated.

Figure '7 is a similar section showing a section of the roller that rotates in a clockwise direction as the roller is actuated.

Figure 8 is a cross section through the outer end of the game board taken on line 8 8 of Figure 1 illustrating folding wings at the sides of the board. i

Figure 9 is a plan view showing a magnet operating spool positioned in the board and mounted to actuate the magnet carrying elements.

Figure 10 is an exploded view illustrating the play indicating cylinder sections with combinations of plays illustrated thereon.

Figure 1'1 is a detail illustrating one of the playing pieces.

Figure 12 is a detail illustrating the relative positions of the playing pieces and magnets with the magnets positioned in a track in the under surface of the board.

Figure 13 is a similar detail showing a section taken at right angles to that shown in Figure 12 showing the construction of one of the playing pieces.

Figure 14 is a detail illustrating one oi the magnets for actuating the playing pieces.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved baseball game board of this invention includes a panel I 0 providing a playing eld, a spool I I rotatably mounted below the board and positioned to operate magnets I 2, a winding spool I3, a shaft I Il actuated by a button I5 and on which a plurality of rollers are mounted, and playing pieces I6 representing men or baseball players.

The board I6 is formed as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 8 with flanges I'I and I8 at the sides for suspending the board above a base I9, and with an operating panel 20 at one end and wings 2| and 22 hinged to the sides for extending the right and left elds of the diamond. The wing 2l is connected to the edge of the board I6 by a hinge 23 and the wing 22 is connected yby a hinge 24. By this means the wings may be folded to flat positions on the board when not in use. The edges of the wings are provided with flanges 25 and 26, respectively for supporting the wings in the same plane as that of the upper surface of the board ID.

'Ihe spool I I is rotatably mounted on a pin 21 of the base I9 and the upper ange 28 of the spool is provided with an extension 29 in which a pin 36 is positioned vas shown in Figures 3 and 9.

The pin 30 of the spool Il is positioned to receive a loop 3| of a connector 32 that extends from a continuous cord 33 on which the magnets I2 are attached as illustrated in Figure 4. The cord 33 is trained over pulleys 34 on a disc 35 that is carried by the 'board I6 and tha-t is provided with a Vcentrally disposed opening 36 which receives the upper end of the pin 2l whereby the disc 35 with the pulleys 34 is stationary and the cord 33 which slides around the pulleys is pulled by the connector 32.

The magnets I2 are attached to the cord 53 as illustrated in Figure 14 with slots 31 in the magnets positioned at right angles to the cord whereby the slots of the magnets extend transversely across' the track 38 of the baseball diamond as the magnets travel around the diamond.

The magnets are actuated, therefore, by turning the spool Il and the spool I I is rotated byV a cord 39 which extends therefrom to the winding spool I3 on the panel 26 with the cord extended through the end of the game vboard as illustrated in Figures l and 4. The spool 4I3 is rotatably mounted on a pin 40 and a knob 4I is provided on the `upper 'surface by which the spool is rotated towind the cord 39 thereon and as the cord is drawn from the spool II the spool II rotates to move players around the diamond or track on the game board. After va game is played the board I 0 may be moved upwardly and the cord 39 rewound on the spool I I.

The panel 26 is provided with tongues 42 and 43 that extend through slots in a flange 44 at the end of the game board andthe panel may also be provided with flanges 45V and 46, the end of which may also extend through slots in the end -of the game board.

Ihe shaft I4 is rotatably mounted in bearings 4'! and y48 at the sides of the board and a plurality of cylindrical sections 49, 50, I, 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56 are freely rotatable on `the shaft and are adapted to spin as the button I5 is pressed downwardly. The button I5 is vertically slidable in a casing 51 positioned over the roller and the lower end is connected by a tape 58 to a pulley 59 which is keyed to the shaft i4. The button I5 is carried bythe upper end of a stem 66 that is slidably mounted in a bearing 6I and to the lower end of which the tape 58 is attached.

,.Each of the roller sections 49 to 56, inclusive, is provided with a recess 62 and thin wire springs 63 and 64, respectively are positioned in these recesses with the springs 63 mounted in the shaft I4 through openings 65 and the springs 64,

through openings 66. The springs 63 are positioned as illustrated in Figure 6 with the ends or points 61 thereof in contact with the wall of the section around the recess whereby with the shaft rotated in a counterclockwise direction the point 61, contacting the wall around the recess rotates the section of the roll in a counterclockwise direction, whereas the spring 64 permits the sections to remain stationary as the shaft is rotated 1n a, counterclockwise direction with downward movement of the button I 5 and as the button returns in the upward movement the point 68 rotates the roll sections in a clockwise direction. With these springs oppositely positioned in the recesses of the roller sections some sections will rotate in one direction and others in the opposite direction.

The windows 69 of the casing 51 are labeled, `as illustrated in Figure 1, and, with suitable indicia provided on the surfaces of the roll section, different plays may be indicated through the windows, and, as illustrated in Figure 5, the roller sections may stop to indicate that the pitcher threw the ball and the batter swings striking a iiy to center field for a single. By the same means the pitcher .may throw a ball, the battery may strike out or hit a grounder, .bunt or foul and the ball may go to either one of the players, and at the same time the device indicates whether the batter is out or makes a single, double or triple, or comes all of the way around for a home run.

In the game of baseball each time a pitcher throws the ball a playV is set up and pressing downwardly of the button I5 represents a play in the game of baseball. I-o make the game realistic a magnet 10 is provided below the pitchers mound 1I and a slider T2, positioned below the board is connected by a cord 'I3 to an -arm 14 Vextended from Athe shaft I4 whereby each time the shaft is actuated by `the button I5 the slider 'I2 moves forward and Va rubber band 'I5 extended around the magnet 'I0 and carried by a bearing or clip 'I6 holds the magnet outwardly. This forward and backward movement of the magnet causes a pitcher Hon the mound to turn slightly -or at least `move with a rocking movement. The magnets, therefore, actuate the pitcher as well as the players.

When a play is completed and set up through the windows of the casing 5l, pointers 18, 19, and 86 .may be moved by hand to indicate the ball, strike or an out and should the player arrive at first base the magnet I2, at that time positioned below the home plate is moved to first base by turning the winding.r spool I3 which actuates the spool I I that `draws the magnet positioned at the home plate toward first base so that a player standing on theV board follows the magnet and travels toward first base. Should the player strike a home run this action is continued and the player follows the magnet continuously around the diamond returning to the home plate. The player may stop at either base depending upon the indicia showing through the windows of thecasi-ng 51;

The game 'board is alsoV provided with foul lines 8| and 82 and areas 83 and 84 in which players may be stationed.

The playing pieces I6 are provided with metal bases which are mounted on the lower-end of the playing pieces by pins 86 that extend upwardly into the body of the playing piece to which the base is attached.

The stationary pulley 85 under the home plate 5 corner of the diamond is provided with a groove 86 through which the cord 13 extends and the under surface of the board I is provided with a track 81 in which the magnets l2 travel. A stop 88 is provided on the pulley 59 to limit the rotary movement thereof.

The recesses E2 in the roller sections are provided with split wire springs 89 which prevent the springs 63 and 64 working out of the recesses.

With the parts arranged in this manner the playing pieces may be divided into sets of nine indicating a team of nine players and the players of each team are preferably of the same color whereby players of the different teams are distinguished by the colors. In playing the game the button I5 is pressed downwardly and the sections of the roller spin around stopping with certain indicia showing through the windows. From this indicia the player understands Whether or not the man is out, or whether the ball is a strike, ball, hit or the like, and with this information the play is executed as hereinbefore described. Playing is continued until three men of one team are out and then the players alternate with the players of the other team going to the bat. The playing is continued until nine, or any suitable number of innings have been completed.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a baseball game, the combination which comprises a horizontally disposed board having a baseball diamond with a home plate, the first, second, and third bases therein illustrated thereon, magnets corresponding withthe bases and home plate of the diamond positioned against the under surface of the game board, means conveying the magnets around the diamond, a spool positioned below the magnet conveying means, means connecting the spool to the magnet conveying means, an operating panel extended beyond one end of the game board, a winding spool mounted on the panel and connected by a cord to the spool below the magnet conveying means for actuating the said spool of the magnet conveying means, a plurality of playing pieces freely positioned on the game board, said playing pieces having bases of material having magnetic attraction whereby upon operating the magnet conveying means displaying pieces travel around the baseball diamond, and a longitudinally operating magnet positioned in the center of the diamond for actuating a playing piece representing a pitcher.

2. In a `baseball game, the combination which comprises a horizontally disposed board having a baseball diamond with a home plate, and first, second, and third bases therein illustrated thereon, a roller having play indicating indicia on the surface thereof rotatably mounted on the board, a button positioned at one end of the roller for spinning the roller, magnets corresponding with the bases and home plate of the diamond positioned against the under surface of the game board, means conveying the magnets around the diamond, a spool positioned below the magnet conveying means, means connecting the spool to the magnet conveying means, an operating panel extended beyond one end of the game board, a winding spool mounted on the panel and connected by a oord to the spool 'below the magnet conveying means for actuating the said spool of the magnet conveying means, a casing having Windows therein enclosing the roller, a plurality of players made of material having magnetic attraction adapted to be influenced by the magnets, an additional magnet positioned below the center of the diamond for actuating a player made of material having magnetic attraction representing a pitcher, and means actuating the magnet below the player representing the pitcher by the roller, and as the roller is actuated by the said button.

FERDINAND BEIERLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 756,514 Maxwell Apr. 5, 1904 1,044,679 Mattoni Nov. 19, 1912 1,053,788 Crew Feb. 18, 1913 1,477,224 Kroi Dec. 11, 1923 1,535,918 Hoffman Apr. 28, 1925 1,792,166 Horstmann Feb. 10, 1931 1,850,778 Smith Mar. 22, 1932 1,974,199 Swenson Sept. 18, 1934 2,075,960 Reichel Apr. 6, 1937 2,101,764 Swart Dec. 7, 1937 2,150,303 Walker Mar. 14, 1939 2,205,471 Fagerholm June 25, 1940 2,229,389 Quinn Jan. 21, 1941 

